Michael Jackson took Propofol as early as 1999, a former manager claims in a new book -- and says Jackson was late to his 30th anniversary concerts because he was drugged up.
Frank Cascio, a former personal assistant to Jackson who eventually became his close friend and manager, writes that he first noticed Jackson taking Demerol in 1993 during his "Dangerous" tour. He says Jackson was first introduced to the drug in 1984, after Jackson burned his head during a Pepsi commercial shoot.
In the book, an advanced copy of which was obtained by the AP, Cascio claims Jackson took Propofol in 1999 after a stage accident in Munich.
Cascio says he spoke to Jackson's siblings about his drug use in 2001 and they tried to approach Jackson about it -- but MJ "simply pushed them away."
Writing about Jackson's death, Cascio says Michael "died in his endless quest to attain some inner peace."
The controversial Conrad Murray documentary debuted in the United Kingdom tonight -- and in it the doctor emphatically states that AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips told him Michael Jackson does not have a f**king cent!."
Murray claims Phillips pulled him aside after a meeting about the "This Is It" concerts and angrily said ... "What's this bullshit all about? Listen this guy is next to skid row. He's going to be homeless. Nine security guards? Why does he need that? I'm paying for that s**t. I'm paying for the toilet paper he wipes his f**king ass with."
Phillips took the stand during the manslaughter trial and -- under oath -- denied that conversation with Murray ever took place.
"Michael Jackson and the Doctor: A Fatal Friendship" also shows strategy meetings between Murray's lawyers -- Ed Chernoff and Michael Flanagan ... as well as Flanagan's wife, Susan.
During one pow wow Susan says, "Explain a 50-year-old man who sleeps with a baby doll and has pictures of basically infants to 2-year-old children looking at him every night."
Chernoff then says, "I think the media made him appear weirder than he is." Michael responds, "You gotta be kidding me, he can't be any weirder than he is."
In the docu, Murray claims Michael "always had a chamber that was exclusively his. The bedroom that he slept in ... I had to persuade him, eventually to have it cleaned. Because ... one, he peed the bed. It did not smell good. It was mildew, and I had to get it clean."
"Who would ever believe that a man his age would still be wetting his bed?" Murray added it wasn't medication that made MJ wet the bed ... he claims it was psychological.
The documentary airs in the states, Friday night on MSNBC.
File this under creepy -- You can wake up in the same spot where Michael Jackson didn't ... because his death bed is officially hitting the auction block.
The queen-size bed is just one of the many items from the Holmby Hills home where MJ died that will be included in a Julien's Auctions event next month.
We're told the bed is still in good shape -- but linens have been changed, since MJ's death.
Other items included in the auction are a mirror from Jackson's "inner sanctum -- a private bedroom in the home where NO ONE else was allowed to enter.
A rep for Julien's says the mirror contains an inspirational message Jackson scribbled on the piece for himself regarding his This Is it concert tour -- which says, “TRAIN, perfection, March April. FULL OUT May."
The auction is scheduled to take place on Dec. 17.
Jackson’s death-bed, along with various antique furnishings and paintings and sculptures from his home, will go up for auction next month by Julien’s Auctions. Also up for auction will be a chalkboard that is located inside the home’s kitchen, where a note from one of Jackson’s is posted reading, “I (heart) Daddy. SMILE, it’s for free.” The chalkboard will be sold as is and is expected to take in at least $400.
TMZ has obtained an excerpt of a never-before-seen documentary starring Dr. Conrad Murray -- in which the good doc reveals some very intimate details about the singer ... some of which are not flattering.
The documentary -- titled, "Michael Jackson and The Doctor: A Fatal Friendship" -- was shot while Murray awaited trial for manslaughter ... and features a shockingly candid look at the preparation of the trial, which includes intense fighting between Murray's lawyers.
The movie is being distributed by a company called Zodiak Rights ... which says it's already pre-sold the rights to air the documentary to "major broadcasters around the world."
Sources tell TMZ ... NBC is one of the broadcasters ... and will air the doc in the United States.
As for Dr. Murray -- he signed on to the project back in 2009, following MJ's death. It's unclear how much cash Murray is set to make from the movie.
Los Angeles - Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley and prosecutors in the Conrad Murray trial held a news conference following the guilty verdict.
"We are gratified the jury saw the overwhelming evidence in this case ... that Dr. Murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter," District Attorney Steve Cooley said.
He later added, "Finally, we want to extend our personal sympathies to the Jackson family, especially to (Jackson's children) Prince, Paris and Blanket."
The case was "a very strong and powerful message that this sort of conduct does rise to the level of criminal negligence," the district attorney said.
"To the extent someone dies as a result of their playing the role of Dr. Feelgood, they will be held accountable," Cooley said.
The district attorney noted that recent state legislation that calls for inmates in "so-called non-violent, non-serious, non sex offenses" cases to serve their sentences in county jail instead of state prison will "eliminate the potential for a traditional state prison sentence in state prison in this case."
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren, the lead prosecutor on the case, also extended sympathies to the Jackson family, noting that they lost "not a pop icon, but a son and a brother."
"I think that's most important to keep in mind," the prosecutor said.
He thanked the judge for overseeing "a very fair and well-run trial" and jurors "for being so conscientious in their duties."
Defense attorneys had no immediate comment after the verdict.
Read more: http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/jackson_dr_trial/case_file/prosecution-statement-on-conrad-murray-verdict-20111107#ixzz1d4b4DJ1H
Updated: Monday, 07 Nov 2011, 4:40 PM PST
Published : Monday, 07 Nov 2011, 4:40 PM PST
Reporter:
Bob Decastro
Text Story by:
City News
Los Angeles - A throng of Michael Jackson fans shouted their approval outside the downtown courthouse today when Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty of causing the entertainer's death in 2009.
Some cried, others waved signs reading "Guilty" and still more held pictures of the late singer aloft. A victory chant started up afterward as Jackson family members made their way through the crowd to waiting limousines.
"I'm happy," said Michelle Mitchel, a dreadlocked Jackson fan in her 30s who traveled to Los Angeles from her home in the Bay Area to stand outside the courthouse when the verdict was read.
"We've been waiting more than two years for this," she said. "I cried as soon as I heard the verdict. It's so sad -- Michael's not here."
A phalanx of police officers managed to keep Jackson supporters on the sidewalk in front of the Criminal Courts Building and keep traffic moving along Temple Street unimpeded.
Echo Park resident Lawrence Kolb was among those gathered around an iPad outside the courthouse, watching a live television feed when the verdict was read aloud nine floors above the street.
"Everyone just screamed," he said. "Everyone was jubilant. I didn't see any Murray supporters."
But there was at least one among the crowd who believed in the Houston cardiologist, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the superstar's death at age 50 on June 25, 2009.
A lone man held a sign reading, "Dr Murray: An innocent man who must be exonerated."
As the crowd thinned, someone placed a boom box on a ledge and played a string of Jackson hits until a policeman moved the group on.
Read more: http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/jackson_dr_trial/case_file/conrad-murray-guilty-verdict-crowds-20111107#ixzz1d4ZHHJXL
Los Angeles - Michael Jackson's sister says she's overjoyed that a jury convicted the pop star's doctor of involuntary manslaughter.
La Toya Jackson spoke to an Associated Press reporter on the way out of the courtroom. She says: "Michael was looking over us."
Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, says she was confident this would be the outcome of the trial.
Members of the family wept quietly after the guilty verdict was read. Dr. Conrad Murray was handcuffed and taken into custody.
Katherin Jackson told FOX 11 News "justice was served" as she left the court.
Jermaine Jackson echoed that sentiment and told FOX 11's Bob Decastro the family was "happy" with the outcome.
Read more: http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/jackson_dr_trial/jackson_family_says/jackson-family-overjoyed-at-guilty-verdict-20111107#ixzz1d4YCqtjh
Conrad Murray Found Guilty in Death of Michael Jackson
Murray ordered held without bail until sentencing.
Updated: Monday, 07 Nov 2011, 7:42 PM EST
Posted by:
myFOXla.com Web Staff
Los Angeles - Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal physician, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter today for the pop superstar's June 25, 2009, death from an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol.
Murray, who faces up to four years in prison, remained stone-faced as the verdict was announced, showing no visible reaction. He was taken into custody at the conclusion of the hearing, and he will remain jailed until his sentencing on Nov. 29.
The seven-man, five-women jury deliberated for about eight and a half hours before reaching a verdict. When the verdict was announced, some cries of "yes" could be heard from the courtroom audience.
Jackson's parent's, Katherine and Joe, were among those in the audience, along with his brother Jermaine and sister LaToya.
"We are gratified the jury saw the overwhelming evidence in this case ... that Dr. Murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter," District Attorney Steve Cooley said.
He later added, "Finally, we want to extend our personal sympathies to the Jackson family, especially to (Jackson's children) Prince, Paris and Blanket."
Defense attorneys had no immediate comment after the verdict.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren, the lead prosecutor on the case, also extended sympathies to the Jackson family, noting that they lost "not a pop icon, but a son and a brother."
The jury heard from 49 witnesses -- 33 for the prosecution and 16 for the defense -- during the trial, in which testimony began Sept. 27 and ended Tuesday. Jurors heard nearly a full day of closing arguments Thursday from attorneys from both sides and deliberated for a full day Friday.
In his closing argument, Walgren told the panel that the evidence "is abundantly clear that Conrad Murray acted with criminal negligence, that Conrad Murray caused the death of Michael Jackson, that Conrad Murray left Prince, Paris and Blanket without a father," Walgren said, referring to the singer's three children. "They do not have a father because of the actions of Conrad Murray."
Prosecutors said Murray gave the singer an intravenous fatal dose of propofol on June 25, 2009, then "abandoned" his patient by talking on the phone and looking at emails instead of monitoring him.
The 58-year-old cardiologist demonstrated "consciousness of guilt" by failing to tell paramedics and emergency room doctors that he had given the singer propofol and only told police about the drug two days later because he thought investigators had already found the medication at the singer's home, Walgren said.
Murray told police he only left Jackson's side for about two minutes to use the bathroom after giving the singer a 25-milligram dose of propofol that was slowly infused over three to five minutes beginning at about 10:40 a.m., in the bedroom of Jackson's rented home, where he was staying while rehearsing for a series of 50 concerts in London dubbed "This Is It."
Murray's lead attorney, Edward Chernoff, argued that the most reasonable explanation for Jackson's death was that the singer self-administered the fatal dose of propofol. He added that the evidence supported Murray's statement to police that he gave Jackson a 25-milligram dose of propofol.
"What they're really asking you to do is convict Dr. Murray for the actions of Michael Jackson," Chernoff told jurors in his closing argument.
He acknowledged that Murray may not have done everything right on the day the 50-year-old Jackson died but reminded jurors that the trial had not been a medical board hearing or about a civil lawsuit but rather about a man's liberty.
"If you're going to hold Dr. Murray responsible, don't do it because it's Michael Jackson," he said. "I hope you do the right thing and find Dr. Murray not guilty."
Chernoff argued in court today that Murray should be allowed to remain free on bail pending his sentencing hearing, saying he was not a flight risk and had "family obligations that he has to take care of."
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said, however, that Murray was convicted of a crime "where the end result was the death of a human being." He said Murray's "reckless conduct in this case" proved that he was a risk to public safety.
Outside the courthouse, Michael Jackson fans cheered when the guilty verdict was announced. Several people waved signs that said "guilty," "Justice for Michael Jackson" and "4 years is not enough for a life." Others held up copies of Jackson's albums.
After court was adjourned, members of the Jackson family hugged prosecutors. In the courtroom hallway, Jermaine Jackson hugged some fans amid cheering.
